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well worth the investment!

The Arcitec razor, is one of the latest models of razor from Philips, and comes with all the extra trimmings you could wish for, from a detachable head, for better using of the trimming attachment, all the way to LED displays on the better models, and even a cleaning dock! So do all these gadgets warrant purchasing this razor?ProsDesign - the design of the razor is very aesthetically pleasing, in fact I would go as far to say as it is the best looking razor on the market. Be warned that on more expensive models usually just have aesthetic changes rather than actual shaving experience.Shaving - When I purchased this I was an electric shaver virgin, and was very sceptical about moving over. However this Philishave offers a nice close shave, and as long as you look after them, the blades last a long time.Battery - The battery lasts over an hour on full use, which is more than enough if you're travelling around a lot.Charging pod - the charging pod is very pleasing to the eye, and when the is shut, and you plug in the charger you can only see the light shining through from the razor which is pretty cool....Cleaning Dock - easy cleaning just plug in and walk away.ConsCost - as with most gadget with "all the trimmings" you can spend a small fortune kitting this out, but be warned some of the "better" models than this will only give you things like, carbon fibre inserts or led displays, there is no changes to the mechanisms and machinery itself.Shaving - I would say though if you want a really close shave there is no alternative but a wet razor, no electric shaver will ever shave as close.Cleaning Dock - although a quirky feature, it can get quite expensive with the cleaning fluid being around £5 a pot, when just running it under the tap, it could be argued, is sufficient, plus I have used it twice in a year and that's it.To sum up, offers a very nice shaving experience, those with sensitive skin will probably appreciate an electric razor, as it is nicer on the skin then using a wet razor, however it will never be as close as a wet razor.

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Well worth the money

Well to start with I actually have the RQ1095 model, but the only difference relates to minor cosmetic issues, and in no way any performance ratings of the actual chaver itself.

I must admit that I fell in love with this shaver as soon as I saw it advertised. It's almost an alien spaceship disguised as a razor, the smooth curves and sleek finish making it by far the best looking razor of all time. This is also a good design fault in terms of using the razor, allowing for a good comfortable grip, and the carbon fibre sides help keep the weight down. On top of that the heads sit on a slim neck line rotating ball, which although is there for practical reasons, makes the Arcitec look even more pleasing to the eye. Along with this, the optional charging pod is very nice-looking, sleek and black and very tidy on a shelf. There are even colourful symbols to tell you about charging and cleaning performance! More of that later.

I suppose I should tell you about how this thing actually shaves. Pretty darn good if you really want to know. This gives a wonderfully close shave, that seems to be quicker to achieve than any previous shaver I have owned (that includes both rotary and foil), and with leaving behind any soreness or itching as I had encountered with past shavers. With just a little water (although you may use a pre-shave oil/creme of your fancy if you so wish) the heads glide smoothly over your face, and this is where that 'neck' design comes into play. It allows each of the three 'heads' to rotate both together in one general direction, and then individually against your skin, so that whatever part of your face, neck or chin, they are always in contact with your skin, thereby creating a better shave, and saving that little extra time.

Cleaning this shaver is actually not a chore at all, but an amusement at how easy it can be if a product is designed well, which this most certainly is. There are two options, either using the afore mentioned cleaning pod, or simply opening the three heads (they are on hinges) and running water from the tap over the heads till they are clear. Either way is good, though the pod option is funkier for obvious reasons!

The cleaning pod does an excellent job, and is not as bad as made out - the solution last for approximately two cleans, depending on what type of hair growth you are shaving away - personally I have found it works well with three cleans with no problems but I don't have a full on beard just yet! This is relatively quick, perhaps about 30 minutes to clean and dry.

Finally the charging - This is one of the wonders of this device that I am sure will please many. When fully charged you can expect about two weeks of shaving before needing to be recharged (average of ten minutes per shave) which I personally think is good in itself. To recharge the Arcitec from dead to full takes about an hour, although a quick charge of five minutes will give you about 10 minutes worth of charge in case you are in a hurry.

Some of the extras on this are superb also, such as the cleaning l and charging lights on the cleaning pod, low battery indicator on the unit itself etc. One of my favourite things is the travel pod, in which the Arcitec sits inside a VERY durable plastic enclosure contoured to its shape, and which comes with a plug to put the charging adaptor into.

This is without doubt one of the best shavers to ever be released, and although it started off rather pricey (£250 when released) it is now available from between £120-160 for the different model ranges.

This is a definite buy if you are in the market for a new shaver. And perhaps even if you're not!

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A decent shave

Though I used to prefer foil shavers overall, rotary shavers are good at dealing with longer hairs, and are sometimes preferred over foil shavers by men who shave less frequently. My view is that the philips arcitec is an excellent addition to the rotary shaver series and my assessment of this is mainly positive.This is one of the quietest electric shavers on the market, though I have mixed opinions about its closeness of shave (each of the rotary blades on the arcitec swivels independently, which can take some getting used to).I tried the 1050X which even though it is the most basic shaver in the series, it delivers the same shaving performance as its more feature-laden (and more expensive) line mates. I would highly recommend it to anyone with a soft beard, probably younger people. It still works with older people but it's probably best to moisten the area first with one of the many pre-shave ointments on the market.

For less money you can get the arcitec with the built in moisturizing system which does this for you.

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fuss free experience

Note: This is my boyfriends shaver - I wrote the review while he dictated. I don't need to use a shaver (...at least I think I don't...)

I bought this for my boyfriend for his birthday as an upgrade to a previous Philips shaver. It was on offer in Boots at the time and I paid about £140 as well as generating some Boots loyalty points.

~~~~~~~The Unit~~~~~~~

At the time it was the 2nd from the top of the range - the top of the range was the nivea moisturise one. It also has an edge trimmer and the boyfriend does not bother with moisturiser (!) so this model is sufficient.

The shaver is about 6 inches tall and about 2 inches wide so it fits in the palm of your hand. The control is an on/off button located in the handle at the front in the centre.

~~~~~~Usage~~~~~~

The shaver has an ultra slim and easy to use body, which makes it comfortable to hold.

When you are using it, it glides across the skin while shaving - the previous model felt like it was dragging and it felt like it was pulling out the hair. This model feels gentler than that. This is due to the flex and pivot action that is one of the unique features of the Philips models to move to the contour of the face.

~~~~~~~~~~Maintenance~~~~~~~~~~

In terms of cleaning the heads, this is by far the easiest to maintain. You just unclip the blade which hinges back from the head and the small cuts of hair can be easily washed away under a tap.

Philips also claim corrosion-free heads which means they should not rust. So far that has been true but to see if that is true will be a test of time in his opinion.

The shaver is is rechargeable and comes with it's own docking bay so you can use it for a week before charging. It takes about 1 hour to reach full charge. The device comes with the following additional electronic features:

For the price and based on past experience with the Philips range of shavers, this has received the 4 stars. It provides a lot of features that are actually useful and makes the dry shaving experience totally fuss free. However although it is portable it would be preferable to have a smaller unit.

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Product Details

The RQ1051/18 Arcitec shaver from Philips has a Triple Track shaving head system with flex and pivot movement to ensure a clean shave, even in those hard-to-reach places around the neck.The RQ1051/18 has a long battery life and is washable for your convenience; the JetClean system means it requires no maintenance on your behalf!The RQ1051/18 Arcitec shaver is the ideal hair removal tool for men looking to start their day with a quick, accurate shave.